bitingduck

I can't remember the last time I tried to ride no hands without clipless pedals, but I suppose it's probably a little easier with them because your feet won't slide when you're shifting your weight around.

Way back when I was an exchange student in Germany I once rode no hands all the way home from the University to the Studentensiedlung (I think about 3 miles), including through the crowded streetcar stop over the main train station. I didn't touch the bars until the last 5 feet or so when I was rolling into the bike racks. This was on a beater 3 speed crummy euro commuter bike with rubber platform pedals that was probably so stable it could have done the whole ride without a rider.

ultraman6970

NO problems over here even using my hybrid and pulling my kid charriot.

Probably is a thing of the bike too, with the bikes i had i'm able to ride no hands even in nasty roads. I have a friend with a giant aluminum one and she was not able to get the control i have with no hands. She was able to do it in the 20 inches bike that her kid had. Weird.

cwilliams

Same! I used to have fun and see if I could ride around the block (4 left turns and probably a half mile or so) without once touching my handlebars. I successfully did it a few times as I can recall. I actually find it a bit easier with clipless pedals vs platforms.

Brian Ratliff

Riding slow, no-handed, is harder for me than going fast - with or without cleats. I should experiment with this tomorrow. I suspect that it was the slow speed, rather than the no cleats, that was the difference. Usually steering with no hands is done with the hips through the saddle horn.

prendrefeu

Mmmm, to be honest, I experience little/no difference in riding no-handed with or without a clipless setup. I'm not sure what methods I learned to do this, but perhaps it's because I developed a very smooth pedal stroke through a few years of riding on a fixed set up (averaging 200-300 miles/week on a fixed, riding in traffic, up hills, everywhere in Los Angeles). I'd ride a good 40% of the time no-hands. When I went clipless, it continued. The fixed currently remains without a clipless set up, and frankly, quite crappy pedals that aren't very good to grip on. I typically wear soft-soled shoes when riding around on the fixed, which remains at a good 50-75 miles/week avg. The pedal stroke remains smooth.... and maybe that learned technique has transfered over to my road setup(s) with the clipless system.

Oh, and point of reference now: I can usually do no-hands comfortably (with turns, up hills...everything but a steep downhill) for around 30 minute straight at this point.*** No exaggeration.

Perhaps that helps?



***edit: unfortunately, if I don't hit a rhythm with the traffic lights, the frequent reds mixed with jittery drivers means I have to put my hands on the bars more often.

Pedaleur

I did a little experiment this morning. I rode my Shimano flip-flop pedals that have a platform on one side and SPD on the other. The toothy platform gives very good traction for my running shoes, and I had no trouble riding no-handed. When I used the SPD side, my shoes were only contacting the small SPD clip, and, though it wasn't 'hard', I could tell that I had to pay a little more attention to keeping my feet on, for what it's worth. I'll try again with my other shoes, which have a harder sole and won't grip the SPD side nearly as well.

From a physical standpoint, it makes sense that less pedal traction makes it more difficult, since that's what gives you leverage w.r.t. your ass on the saddle. Given all the other variables, it would be hard to quantify it.

04jtb

Never given this any thought before, but thinking about it I agree with you, can do it for miles with foot retention, but its harder to control without.

qwer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_6lSLuwU6Q

rizz

His handlebars never moved the entire time. Neat trick.

ehidle

Sounds about right... I can't ride no-handed that often (it's always windy enough to make 50mm rims a bit dangerous to ride no-handed) but yeah, it helps to be able to regulate torque through the backstroke to stay straight and level..

aham23

no hands?

not sure, but i can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars.

later.

Dice

I used to ride to my Dojo, and when my lesson got out (10P.M.) I would have a nice well light street with no traffic to practicing riding no hands with. Eventually I got to the point where I could do the whole route from the Dojo to my house (5k) easily, than I tried it with clips and felt like my balance was off... thought it was only me though. I think it's cause you have to factor in pushing down and up. It's definitely doable, but I prefer riding no hands with no clips.

BillyD

You think that was good?

Coyote2

My experience is exactly the same as yours. This was driven home a few days ago while riding my beach cruiser for some errands. While riding along no-hands, with platform pedals, I hit a big bump which caused my feet to slip on the pedals -- one foot came right off the pedal -- and I realized just how much of a role the pedals play in my balance. Clipped into my road bike pedals I can practically ride over curbs without my hands on the bar.

Cromulent

Ha!

I both love and hate that song.


I think it's a speed thing. I can ride no-handed for a while and be comfortable to the point where I sort of forget that I am riding no handed. But I have to be going over a certain speed. I have no idea what that speed is.

Campag4life

Because of a foot injury...I am not riding clipped in this season. I ride no handed quite a bit and no problem providing I am riding at least 12 mph or so. I believe it has a bit to do with the angles of the bike. If the bike is real aggressive with steep angles, it is harder to balance. Some bikes are easier than others to ride no handed.

The other thing is...balancing on speedplays with tennis shoes is a far cry from riding a very large BMX pedal like I do. My set up is actually quite secure and can stand and mash out of the saddle without toe clips with little worry. Clipping in is best of course but the right platform pedal and shoe combo is pretty secure.

Homebrew01

There are people that can't ride no hands ?!?

I go no hands all the time on road rides when eating.

For fun a friend and I used to ride around a little course of a 1/4 mile or so no-handed. The winner was the one who could ride the slowest without touching the bars.

Dice

I can't even wheelie, that man is no hander god.

Paul Y.

Wait a minute! Is this April 1?

Cromulent

No. So never ride no hands while listening to your iPod without a helmet. How you get a helmet on your iPod is up to you.

Flak

Steer with your thighs on the nose of the saddle and body weight. Pedals, clipped or not then becomes a non-issue.

umd

Hey, I didn't have my iPod... it was a social ride after all

Cromulent

Jimminy Crickets! Riding no hands in a group? I bet they yelled at you.

caloso

Everything looks better when you are winning a stage of the Tour.

To answer the OP: yes, I notice a difference. I also notice that it's easier on my fixed gear. That might have to do with the constant pedaling.

halfspeed

https://www.phred.org/~josh/bike/trail.html